Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Aviation Minister, has said if Fulani herdsmen should be allowed to carry AK-47 to defend themselves that it would be logical for all Nigerians to also be given the same right.
He spoke when he visited Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, at his residence in Ibadan on Thursday.
“The Bauchi State Governor said a few days ago that Fulani herdsmen should be allowed to carry AK-47, but I disagree with him on that, but that is his own opinion. If you go by that principle, it makes absolute sense that if Fulani herdsmen are allowed to carry AK-47 to defend their cows and their lives if they feel threatened, then it is also logical that farmers, local people and each one of us to also have that right to defend ourselves against Fulani herdsmen or against those seeking to come and kill us,” Fani-Kayode said.
The Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (retd), speaking on the abduction of Kagara secondary school students in Niger State on Wednesday, referred to Nigerians as cowards and charged them to defend themselves from bandits.
In his response to that, the former minister said, “I am totally behind that and I like that. Why not, Americans have that right. If we had that long time ago, the killings we are witnessing now would not have the kind of atrocities being committed all over the country.
“Insecurity is not limited to the South-West; you will be surprised at what is going on in the North. But the best way is for the government to rise up and defend us; that is why we pay them.”